17. (They are) those who are patient ones, those who are true (in Faith, words, and deeds), and obedient with sincere devotion in worship to Allah. Those who spend [in the Way of Allah] and those who pray and beg Allah’s Pardon in the last hours of the night.

46. And obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not dispute (with one another) lest you lose courage and your strength depart, and be patient. Surely, Allah is with those who are As-Sabirin (the patient ones, etc.).

~~~

Tafsir Ibn Katheer, Volume 4, Page 331

In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that `Abdullah bin Abi Awfa said that during one battle, Allah’s Messenger waited until the sun declined, then stood among the people and said,

“O people! Do not wish to face the enemy and ask Allah to save you (from calamities). But if you should face the enemy, then be patient and let it be known to you that Paradise is under the shadows of the swords.”

Muslims are required to obey Allah and His Messenger in such circumstances adhering to what He commanded them, and abstaining from what He forbade them. They are required to avoid disputing with each other, for this might lead to their defeat and failure,

﴿وَتَذْهَبَ رِيحُكُمْ﴾

“lest your strength departs”

So that your strength, endurance and courage do not depart from you,

﴿وَاصْبِرُواْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّـبِرِينَ﴾

“and be patient. Surely, Allah is with the patients.”

In their courage, and obedience to Allah and His Messenger, the Companions reached a level never seen before by any nation or generation before them, or any nation that will ever come. Through the blessing of the Messenger and their obedience to what he commanded, the Companions were able to open the hearts, as well as, the various eastern and western parts of the world in a rather short time. This occurred even though they were few, compared to the armies of the various nations at that time.

128. Musa (Moses) said to his people: “Seek help in Allah and be patient. Verily, the earth is Allah’s. He gives it as a heritage to whom He will of His slaves, and the (blessed) end is for the Muttaqun.”

~~~

Tafsir Ibn Katheer Volume 4, Page 145

When Fir`awn insisted on his evil plot against the Children of Israel,

﴿قَالَ مُوسَى لِقَوْمِهِ اسْتَعِينُواْ بِاللَّهِ وَاصْبِرُواْ﴾

“Musa said to his people: “Seek help in Allah and be patient””

And promised them that the good end will be theirs and that they will prevail, saying,

“Verily, the earth is Allah’s. He gives it as a heritage to whom He wills of His servants; and the (blessed) end is for the pious and righteous persons.” They said: “We suffered troubles before you came to us, and since you have come to us.”

The Children of Israel replied to Musa, `they (Fir`awn and his people) inflicted humiliation and disgrace on us, some you witnessed, both before and after you came to us, O Musa’! Musa replied, reminding them of their present situation and how it will change in the future,

﴿عَسَى رَبُّكُمْ أَن يُهْلِكَ عَدُوَّكُمْ﴾

“It may be that your Lord will destroy your enemy. ..”

Encouraging them to appreciate Allah when the afflictions are removed and replaced by a bounty.

Al-Hasan Al-Basri said, “The believers are commanded to be patient in the religion that Allah chose for them, Islam. They are not allowed to abandon it in times of comfort or hardship, ease or calamity, until they die as Muslims. They are also commanded to endure against their enemies, those who hid the truth about their religion.”

As for Murabatah, it is to endure in acts of worship and perseverence. It also means to await prayer after prayer, as Ibn `Abbas stated. Ibn Abi Hatim collected a Hadith that was also collected by Muslim and An-Nasa’i from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet said,

“Should I tell you about actions with which Allah forgives sins and raises the grade Performing perfect ablution in unfavorable conditions, the many steps one takes to the Masajid, and awaiting prayer after the prayer, for this is the Ribat, this is the Ribat, this is the Ribat.

Allah said next,

﴿وَاتَّقُواْ اللَّهَ﴾

“and have Taqwa of Allah”

Concerning all your affairs and situations. For instance, the Prophet said to Mu`adh when he sent him to Yemen,

Indeed, all praise and thanks are due to Allaah. We praise Him; seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek protection from Him from the evils of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomever Allaah guides, no one can misguide him, and whomever He sends astray, there is no other guide for him. I testify that nothing has any right to be worshipped except Allaah alone, having no partner, and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger-may the peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him, his family, companions and those who follow them in goodness until the Day of Judgment. To proceed:

Assalaam alaykum wa rahmatullaah wa barakatuuh.

All praise is due to Allaah who has made us to witness another of the sacred months of this year i.e. Rajab as Allaah exalted is He states in the Noble Quran:

“Verily, the number of months with Allaah is twelve months (in a year), so was it ordained by Allaah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are Sacred (i.e. the 1st, the 7th, the 11th and the 12th months of the Islamic calendar). That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein” [al-Tawbah 9:36]

Here Allaah forbids us from committing sins especially during these months, as He says “wrong not yourselves therein”. Although committing sins is haraam and forbidden during these months and at other times, in these months it is more forbidden. So this month we take a look at that all important virtue that along with Taqwa (God-Consciousness) of Allaah, helps us to not only stay away from sins but to shun doubtful matters and also give up (sacrifice) lawful matters in anticipation of greater Rewards.

Furthermore, as this quote from http://www.islamqa.com nicely puts it “Patience is of more help to the one who has it than men, as it helps without any need for equipment or numbers” and thus it:

leads to victory;

leads to strength;

leads to nobility;

leads to gentility;

leads to forgiveness;

leads to Paradise;

leads to Allaah’s Love.

For Allaah says:

“And Allaah loves As-Saabiroon (the patient)” (Q3:146)!

And what could be nobler and better than being from those whom our Lord loves and is pleased with. I end with the dua of Prophet Taluut (Saul) [for himself and his companions which included Prophet Dawuud (David)]

“Our Lord, pour upon us patience and plant firmly our feet …”

Acknowledgement:

I’ll like to acknowledge and thank Shariifah Yunus for the planting the idea for this month’s theme. May Allaah reward her with good.

20. Know that the life of this world is only play and amusement, pomp and mutual boasting among you, and rivalry in respect of wealth and children, as the likeness of vegetation after rain, thereof the growth is pleasing to the tiller; afterwards it dries up and you see it turning yellow; then it becomes straw. But in the Hereafter a severe torment, and Forgiveness from Allah and (His) Good Pleasure, whereas the life of this world is only a deceiving enjoyment.

~~~

Tafseer Ibn Katheer Volume 9, Page 490

Allah the Exalted degrades the significance of this life and belittles it by saying,

that the life of this world is only play and amusement, pomp and mutual boasting among you, and rivalry in respect of wealth and children.

Meaning, this is the significance of this life to its people. Allah the Exalted also sets a parable for this life, declaring that its joys are fading and its delights are perishable, saying that life is,

﴿كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ﴾

“Like a rain (Ghayth)” which is the rain that comes down to mankind, after they had felt despair.

Allah’s statement,

﴿أَعْجَبَ الْكُفَّارَ نَبَاتُهُ﴾

“thereof the growth is pleasing to the tiller”

Meaning that farmers admire the vegetation that grows in the aftermath of rain. And just as farmers admire vegetation, the disbelievers admire this life; they are the most eager to acquire the traits of life, and life is most dear to them,

﴿ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَاهُ مُصْفَرّاً ثُمَّ يَكُونُ حُطَاماً﴾

“afterwards it dries up and you see it turning yellow; then it becomes straw.”

Meaning, that vegetation soon turns yellow in color, after being fresh and green. After that, the green fades away and becomes scattered pieces of dust. This is the parable of this worldly life, it starts young, then matures and then turns old and feeble.

This is also the parable of mankind in this life; they are young and strong in the beginning. In this stage of life, they look youthful and handsome. Slowly, they begin growing older, their mannerism changes and their strength weakens. They then grow old and feeble; moving becomes difficult for them, while doing easy things becomes beyond their ability. This parable indicates the near demise of this life and the imminent end of it, while in contrast, the Hereafter is surely coming. Those who hear this parable should, therefore, be aware of the significance of the Hereafter and feel eagerness in the goodness that it contains.

29. Allah puts forth a similitude: a (slave) man belonging to many partners (like those who worship others along with Allah) disputing with one another, and a (slave) man belonging entirely to one master, (like those who worship Allah Alone). Are those two equal in comparison? All the praises and thanks be to Allah! But most of them know not.

~~~

Tafsir Ibn Katheer Volume 8, Page 385

Allah says:

﴿ضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلاً رَّجُلاً فِيهِ شُرَكَآءُ مُتَشَـكِسُونَ﴾

“Allah puts forth a parable: a man belonging to many partners disputing with one another,”

Meaning, they were disputing concerning that slave in whom they all had a share.

﴿وَرَجُلاً سَلَماً لِّرَجُلٍ﴾

“and a (slave) man belonging entirely to one master.”

means, no one owned him except that one man.

﴿هَلْ يَسْتَوِيَانِ مَثَلاً﴾

“Are those two equal in comparison”

Meaning, they are not the same. By the same token, the idolator who worships other gods besides Allah and the sincere believer who worships none besides Allah, with no partner or associate, are not equal. What comparison can there be between them Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, Mujahid and others said, “This Ayah is the parable of the idolator and the sincere believer.” Because this parable is so clear and obvious, Allah then says:

﴿الْحَمْدُ للَّهِ﴾

“All the praises and thanks be to Allah!”

i.e., for establishing proof against them.

﴿بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ﴾

“But most of them know not. “

Means, and for this reason they associate others in worship with Allah.

41. The likeness of those who take Auliya’ (protectors and helpers) other than Allah is as the likeness of a spider, who builds (for itself) a house, but verily, the frailest of houses is the spider’s house; if they but knew.

~~~

Tafseer Ibn Katheer Volume 7, Page 492.

This is how Allah described the idolators in their reverence of gods besides Him, hoping that they would help them and provide for them, and turning to them in times of difficulties. In this regard, they were like the house of a spider, which is so weak and frail, because by clinging to these gods they were like a person who holds on to a spider’s web, who does not gain any benefit from that. If they knew this, they would not take any protectors besides Allah.

This is unlike the Muslim believer, whose heart is devoted to Allah, yet he still does righteous deeds and follows the Laws of Allah, for he has grasped the most trustworthy handle that will never break because it is so strong and firm. Then Allah warns those who worship others besides Him and associate others with Him that He knows what they do and the rivals they associate with Him. He will punish them for their attribution, for He is All-Wise and All-Knowing. Then He says:

“And these are the examples We give for mankind; but none will understand them except those who have knowledge.”

Meaning, no one understands them or ponders them except those who are possessed of deep knowledge. Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Amr bin Murrah said, “I never came across an Ayah of the Book of Allah that I did not know, but it grieved me, because I heard that Allah says:

73. O mankind! A similitude has been coined, so listen to it (carefully): Verily! Those on whom you call besides Allah, cannot create (even) a fly, even though they combine together for the purpose. And if the fly snatched away a thing from them, they would have no power to release it from the fly. So weak are (both) the seeker and the sought.

~~~

Tafsir Ibn Kathir Volume 6, Page 618.

Here Allah points out the insignificance of the idols.

﴿يأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ ضُرِبَ مَثَلٌ﴾

“O mankind! A parable has been made,”

Meaning, a parable of that which is worshipped by those who are ignorant of Allah and who join others as partners with Him.

“Verily, those on whom you call besides Allah, cannot create a fly, even though they combine together for the purpose.”

Even if all the idols and false gods whom you worship were to come together to create a single fly, they would not be able to do that. `Umarah from Abu Zur`ah from Abu Hurayrah, who said that the Prophet said:

“Allah says: “Who does more wrong than one who tries to create (something) like My creation Let them create an ant, let them create a grain of barley.””

Then Allah says:

﴿وَإِن يَسْلُبْهُمُ الذُّبَابُ شَيْئاً لاَّ يَسْتَنقِذُوهُ مِنْهُ﴾

“And if the fly snatches away a thing from them, they will have no power to release it from the fly.”

They are unable to create a single fly and, moreover, they are unable to resist it or take revenge against it if it were to take anything from the good and perfumed thing on which it lands. If they wanted to recover that, they would not be able to, even though the fly is the weakest and most insignificant of Allah’s creatures. Allah says:

﴿ضَعُفَ الطَّالِبُ وَالْمَطْلُوبُ﴾

“So weak are the seeker and the sought.”

Ibn `Abbas said, “The seeker is the idol and the sought is the fly.” This was the view favored by Ibn Jarir, and it is what is apparent from the context. As-Suddi and others said, “The seeker is the worshipper, and the sought is the idol.”

54. And indeed We have put forth every kind of example in this Qur’an, for mankind. But, man is ever more quarrelsome than anything.

~~~

Tafsir Ibn Katheer

Allah says: “In this Qur’an, We have explained to mankind and given clear details of matters so that they will not stray from the truth or be misled from the path of guidance. Despite this explanation, man is very quarrelsome and opposes truth with falsehood,'” except for those whom Allah guides to the path of salvation. Imam Ahmad recorded that `Ali bin Abi Talib said that the Messenger of Allah, may peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him, came to visit him and Fatimah, the daughter of Allah’s Messenger at night, and said,

«أَلَا تُصَلِّيَانِ؟»

“Are you not going to pray”

I said, “O Messenger of Allah, our souls are in the Hand of Allah. If He wills to wake us, He will wake us.” When I said that, he went away without returning. Then I heard him as he was walking away, slapping his thigh and saying,